Rotary weeder.



J. K. DOWNIE.

ROTARY WEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 29, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1a Tam'esJaDowme. Witnesses: Inventor 0 7. 0B MM- b.

' I By k Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH CID-.WASHINGTDN. n c.

JAMES KIRKWOOD DOWNIE, OF WAWANESA, MANITOBA, CANADA.

ROTARY WEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11,1913.

Application filed November 29, 1912. Serial No. 734,028.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, JAMES Krnnwooo Downrn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing atWawanesa, Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Needcrs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to rotary weeders.

In order to more clearly disclose the construction, operation, and use of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of the present application.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings like reference characters designate the same parts.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan View; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a lateral, vertical, cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. t is a front view of one of the blades; and Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the same. a a

The main ob'ects of the invention are to provide a simple, efficient, economical, compact, and durable rotary weeding or hoeing machine which will effectually weed a field by thoroughly and completely hoeing out the weeds.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates a front or main supporting frame carried by an axle 2 to the opposite ends of which are secured the supporting traction wheels. At the center and ends of the axle 2 are journaled three rearwardly extending arms 3. In each of the end arms 3 is journaled a drum shaft 4, and in the center arm 3 is journaled a short connecting shaft 5. The drum shafts 4: are each coupled to an end of the connecting shaft 5 by a universal joint 6. This arrangement keeps the shafts 4 and 5 in substantial alinement, and yet permits a limited amount of relative movement between them.

To each end of the axle 2, between the supporting wheel and the adjacent end of the frame 1, is fixed a sprocketwheel 7 which drives a smaller sprocket wheel 8 by means of a sprocket chain 9. Each sprocket wheel 8 is loose on drum shaft 4 and is provided with forward drive clutch teeth 10 frame 1.

adapted to engage and cooperate with complemental clutch teeth on a clutch member 11, fixed to the drum shaft 1. The sprocket wheel 8 is free to have both a longitudinal sliding movement on shaft 1 and a rotary movement thereon. Likewise, each drum shaft 4 is driven from the other, and at the same speed as the other, by means of the connecting shaft 5. Thus, when the machine is being turned at one end of the field, one of the sprockets 8 will be driven forward faster than the other. This will cause the drum shafts 4, connecting shaft 5, and clutch members 11, to rotate at the same speed as the fastest sprocket 8. Consequently, that clutch member 11 which cooperates with the clutch teeth 10 of the slower traveling sprocket 8, will travel forward faster than the said cooperating teeth 10 and will be caused to slip freely thcreover until the machine has been completely turned and again started in a straight forward direction. It is necessary, of course, to maintain a yield ing engagement between the clutch members 11 and the teeth 10 so that one sprocket 8 may act as a drive while the other is practically idle. To this end, a coil spring 12 is provided for each of the sprockets 8. This spring is coiled about the outer end of the drum shaft 4 and confined between a fixed washer 13 and a pivotally mounted supporting bracket 14; Each supporting bracket is pivoted at one end to an upright 15 extending upwardly from the frame 1, and carries a yoke at its opposite end in which is slidably journaled the hub of the sprocket 8. The upright 15 is, itself, pivoted to the The pressure of the spring 1.2 against the bracket 14:, which bears lightly against the face of the sprocket S, maintains operative engagement. between the clutch teeth 10 and the teeth of clutch member 11, except when the member 11 is driven at a greater speed than the sprocket 8. At such times, the teeth of the clutch members 11 will force the sprockets 8 to slide longitudinally out of engagement, against the pressure of the spring, as will be obvious. The upper end of each upright is provided with a handle or hand grip, and carries a spring catch adapted to cooperate with the usual notched arc plate. Each bracket 14 is of spring metal and off set outwardly. Thus, when its upright is swung rearwardly, the end carrying the yoke will be sprung outwardly and the sprocket carried thereby mental drum shaft 18.

.- usted positions.

will have its clutch face disengaged from the corresponding clutch member 11. In this way, the sprockets may both be disengaged so that the machine may be transported from field to field without rotating the drums.

On the short connecting shaft are pivotally mounted two ams 16 in which are journaled a counter shaft 17 and a supple- The distance between the rear ends of the arms 16 is considerably greater than the distance between the inner ends of the drum shafts 4, so that the drum carried between the arms 16 overlaps the drums carried on the shafts 4:, in-

suring complete and thorough working of the field, and avoiding any unworked strips between the inner ends of the drums on shafts t. To one end of each of shafts 1'? and 18 are secured sprocket wheels 19 and 20, respectively, the sprocket :20 being driven from sprocket 19 by means of a sprocket chain 21. The counter shaft 17 is driven from the connecting shaft 5 by means of sprockets 522 and 23, and sprocket chain 2%.

In order to have the machine work as easily and smoothly as possible, it is necessary, of course, to have the weight of the drums and ooerating parts supported by the frame itself and as free of the ground as possible. l or this purpose, a suspension frame is provided. This frame extends rearwardly from the rear part of the frame 1 and is of substantially U shape. The

1 frame 25 is pivoted, at its ends, to the rear of frame 1. Near the opposite ends of the rear of the back members of this frame are secured the ends of two short lifting cables or cords 28. Near the ends of the forward member of the frame 1 are arranged hooks 26 with like guide pulleys 27. The lifting cords or cables 28 are passed about these pulleys, between guide pulleys 29 in a plate 30 on the frame 1, and have their ends secured to an operating lever 31 which is ful crumcd in the frame 1. This lever is provided with the usual spring catch which cooperates with the usual form of notched arc plate 32 to secure the lever in its various ad- By swinging the lever rearwardly, the cords will be drawn in or shortened and the suspension frame 25 raised. By swinging it forward, the action will be reversed and the frame will be free to drop, of course.

A rod 33 is pivotally connected at one end to each of the arms 3 and 16 and has its opposite end slidably passed through a hole in the rear member of the suspension frame 25. On the upper projecting portion of each rod 33 is slidably mounted a retaining washer 3d, and between each of the washers and the rear member of frame 25 is arranged a coil spring 35. The compression of these springs and, therefore, their liftfaces. The edges are ing tendency, may be regulated by means of holding pins 36 adapted to beselect-ively seated in any one of a series of holes 37 in the upper projecting ends of the rods Preferably, their adjustment will be made such as to just about counter balance the weight of the parts in the rear of the axle 2, including the arms 3 and 16 and parts carried thereby. To aid in counter balancing these parts, a box 38 is arranged in the frame 1, in front of the axle 2 and is adapted to receive stones or weights of any kind. Springs 39 are connected at their opposite ends to the rear member of frame 25 and to the forward member of frame 1 and act to support the weight of the frame 25 and its suspended parts. 7

Each of the three drums shown is the same in construction and operation. Consequently, a description of one will sufiice. It comprises two ends or heads 10 made fast to a shaft (4 or 18) and connected by a plurality of regularly spaced and spirally arranged slats 41, each carrying a plurality of similar regularly spaced small hoeing blades. The space between each two blades is equal to about half the width of one blade, and the blades on one slat are ar'anged to fall directly in line with the spaces between the blades and the slat next preceding. The special hoe shaped construction of these blades is more clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Each comprises a cutting edge 12 adapted to strike the ground in the same in nner as a hoe, a beveled face 13 leading upi'vardly from the edge, beveled side faces 44 leading inwardly from the side edges to the center, and a screw threaded shank 45 adapted to be passed through a perforation in the carrying slat 4L1 andre'ceive a binding nut 46 to clamp it securely in position. Due to the spiral arrangement of the slats ll, the hoe blades will engage the ground in succession, one after the other, no two striking at the same time. This gives a continuous and uniform operation and avoids all sudden shocks and jars which would result if a whole row at a time engaged the ground. The rotary motion of the drum and the special construction of the hoe blade gives a true downward and rearward hoeing stroke to each tooth, with the result that the weeds &c. are dug up and le t on top throughout the entire surface over which the machine travels, where they will dry out in the sun and have no chance to take root again.

Preferably, the wheels are made of sheet metal and the traction face is made by stamping or pressing out gripping ridges d7 which present a rounded engaging surface in lateral cross section in contradistinctio'n to angular surface. This gives the same tractive force and, at the same time, avoids clogging which occurs with the angular surcrimped or turned up connecting shaft 5 and its parts,

as at 4:8 to prevent dirt passing to the interior of the wheel and collecting therein, as

is often the case.

On referring to Fig. 1, it will be noticed that the particular machine illustrated is especially designed for a four horse draft. Consequently a special draft evener has been designed. It comprises simply a rope, a cable, or other flexible member 53 connected at its opposite ends to the center of the back of each of the double trees and passed about the two grooved guide rollers 54 which are journaled between the brackets 55 and the tops of the rear ends of the tongues. Thus, the combined pull or draft of the two teams will be equally exerted on the two rollers 54, and the teams will be evened. It is necessary, of course, to have the double trees 61 free to move lengthwise of the tongues in order to effect this evenin Consequently, the usual king pin or double tree pivot is omitted. so that the double tree simply rests on the tongue with perfect freedom of movement, either laterally or longitudinally thereof. But, this arrangement, alone, allows the double trees to slide from the tongues or to be tipped therefrom. To prevent this, the inner ends of the double trees are flexibly connected by a link 56 i which is pivoted at its opposite ends to the inner ends of the double trees. The operation of this link will be obvious and requires no further description.

The seat 57, with back 58 and foot rest 59, may all be stamped from a single piece of metal, The back is desirable to give a rest and back support for the operator. Any form of brace 60, adjustable or otherwise, may be used for connecting the seat to the frame.

The clip connecting each swingletree with its double tree has its edge turned up or rounded to prevent rubbing or scrapin In the particular form of the invention selected for illustration, a four horse machine has been shown. It is obvious, of course, that either a smaller machine or a larger machine may be used, embodying the same ideas. if a two horse machine is used, the four horse evener, of course, will not be necessary. In a two horse machine, only one of the drums will be used. This, of course, does away with the other two drums and all of their parts, also with the short and the central arm 3; also with three of the rods 33 and their parts. Otherwise, the two horse machine will. be the same. It is thought that the two horse form of the machine will be so clear from the above and so obvious from the drawings that further illustration and description is not necessary.

The supporting wheels and sprockets 7 have the usual one way clutch, pawl and ratchet, or other well known one way drive connection with the axle, common in farm machinery.

It is thought that the construction, operation, and use of the invention will be clear from the preceding detailed description.

Changes may be made in the construction, arrangement, and disposition of the several parts of the invention without in any way departing from the field and scope of the same, audit is meant to include all such within this application wherein only a preferred form has been disclosed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A machine of the character described comprising, an axle, supporting wheels carried thereby, a main frame mounted on said axle, arms extending rearwardly from said axle, a rotary drum mounted in said arms, means for driving said drum, a suspension frame carried by said main frame, rods con nected to said arms and passed through said suspension frame, and yielding connections between said rods and said suspension frame.

2. A machine of the character described comprising, an axle, supporting wheels carried thereby, a 1n ain frame mounted on said axle, arms extending rearwardly from said axle, a rotary drum mounted in said arms, means for driving said drum, a suspension frame carriedby said main frame, rods connected to said arms and passed through said suspension frame, yielding connections between said rods and said suspension frame, and means for adjusting said yielding con nections.

3. A machine of the character described comprising, a supporting axle, wheels carried thereby, a frame mounted on said axle, rearwardly extending arms carried by said axle, a rearwardly extending intermediate arm carried on said axle, a drum shaft journaled in each of the outer arms, a connecting shaft journaled in the intermediate arm, universal joints connecting said drum shafts with said connecting shaft, a drum carried by each of said drum shafts, a pair of arms journaled on said connecting shaft, a drum join-naled therein, means for driving the aforesaid drum shafts from said axle, and means for driving the last named drum from the aforesaid connecting shaft.

l. A machine of the character described comprising, a supporting axle, wheels carried thereby, a frame mounted on said axle, rearwardly extending arms carried by said axle, a rearwardly extending intermediate arm carried on said axle, a drum shaft jour' naled in each of the outer arms, a connecting shaft journaled in the intermediate arm, universa-l joints connecting said drum shafts with said connecting shaft, a drum carried by each of said drum shafts, a pair of arms journaled on said connecting shaft, a drum j'eii'nnaled therein, yielding animations be-f tween said suspension frame and each of said arms, means for driving the aforesaid d r um shafts from said axle, and means for driving 1 the last nameddrum from the aforesaid co nilecting shaft. I

5. A machine of the character described, edn'ip'i'ising, a sup orting axle, Wheels car-- ried thereby, a frame mounted on said axle, i'eai wardly extending arms carried by said axle, a rearwardly extending intermediate arm carried on said axle, a drum shaft j 0111'- naied in each of thennte'r arms, a connecting shaft .i'ourn aled in the intermediate arm, 1miversal joints connecting said drum shaft with said connecting s'ha ft, 'a dn'nn'carried by each of said drum shafits, a pair 0f arms jeurnaled 011 said connecting sha ft, a drum journaled therein, a suspension frame, yielding eon nec tiens between said su'slpensien frame and each of said arms, means for adjusting said suspensic'm frame, means for securing said frame in ad justed position, means 'for (having the aforesaid drum shaft from said axle, and means for driving the last named drum from the a foresaid connecting shaft.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES KIRKWOOD DOWNIE. dv itnesses AI-IIECTOIR DOWNIE, JACK BENNETT.

Copies 'of this patent may be ubtai'n'eil 'for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, C? 

